“A Chara go gach”!  Well St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone for another year, and as President of this division I must start off this column with sincere thank you to many many people.

First, there is James Daley Wahl for once again coming thru on the 4th annual Awards night on March 10th and presenting the awards to the two Policemen and two Firemen of the year as well as the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  For those of you who missed this gala event, “you blew it!” It was a wonderful time and some serious money was raised for the parade.  There was one special moment, not captured by the TV news cameras, or the St. Louis Post Dispatch, nor was it noticed but by just a handful of people.  Jim Hannifan one of our award recipients from last year got down practically on his knees and had a 5 minute most personal conversation with Matt Browning, the St. Louis Police Officer who lost both legs in an accident caused by a drunk driver just south of Busch Stadium during the baseball playoffs. Coach Hannifan radiates nothing but class.  God has indeed blessed the Irish by giving us James Hannifan.

Secondly, one of our newer members who has already stepped forward and is now our recording secretary is Kevin Kehoe.  He and Jim Wahl are the ones behind the AOH Irish bracelets that we have been selling. By the way Jim Wahl arranged to borrow some $3,500 from some of his private sources for the payment of the bracelets.  The bracelets that we have already sold cover the original cost of the loan, and everything we sell going forward is profit!  Kevin is another tireless worker and one of the gems of our division.  Kevin worked all day at the AOH beer booth on St. Patrick’s Day.

Thirdly: There is Dan Green of ISC Contracting.  We don’t see much of Dan as he works long hours at ISC, but it was Dan and some members of ISC who took our trailer from Rich Tisell’s house, welded the 2 front flagpole holders to the frame, put down a wood overlay and then (their donation to the division, Dan says) put green outdoor carpet (like the old “Astroturf”) then put the benches down.  They also bought 2 boxes of green beads(total 1,440) which they gave out during the parade although they ran out 2/3 of the way down the route (we are giving them a “donation” letter for a tax write off for this as well as all of the supplies for the trailer).  The trailer also was painted.  Dan is making arrangements to pull the trailer in the St. Ann Parade (St. Ann IS where the modern St. Patrick’s Day Parade started in 1973 under Father James Floor-pastor of St. Kevin’s Church and some AOH members) on Sunday October 9th as well as in the 2006 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  Plans are now afoot to get the trailer rewired and have tail/stop lights, and to get it once again re-titled and licensed.  Hopefully some wonderful politicians and state Rep/Senators will help us get this accomplished

Fourthly:  You know we screamed and moaned for months and months about getting the website moving and on-line.  It is producing results beyond our wildest dreams.  Seamus Concagh and his internet associate Eric Fangmann in San Diego, have produced a beautiful and informative website (www.stlhibernians.org).  I have to tell you, over the past 4 months we have received eleven (11) applications for membership into the division which were downloaded from the website.  I have sent follow up letters to five of the eleven and hopefully they shall be at the April meeting and be brought in as members.

We hope to continue to receive more applications from the website and if all 5 applicants become members in April, that will put us at 133 members.  We lost a few that did not renew their membership.  Hopefully they shall return to the fold.  We do need to keep recruiting and building onward and upward.  The new members are the life blood of the AOH.  They insure the continuance of the growth and expansion of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  They insure that our “family tree” will continue to grow and expand like the giant Redwoods of California. We owe it to the many thousands of AOH members who came before us and have now “passed down the torch of leadership and membership” to those of us who now serve.

Also, Jim Wahl is in Barnes Hospital.  He has contracted “necrotizing fasciitus” which is caused by streptococcal bacterium which feeds on soft tissue.  He came real close to losing his left foot and the infection has also spread to the right leg as well.  As of March 31, Jim is very very lucky.  Things are looking us and they are pumping antibiotics into him.  He will need some skin grafts and he will be in rehabilitation for a long time, but as of this date, things are looking up for Jim.  They did skin grafts on March 30^th, and if things go well, he may be getting out of the hospital on Monday April 4th.

I cannot tell you all just how invaluable Jim is to this division, both as a friend, and an Irish Brother - PLEASE KEEP Jim in your prayers.  He is in room number 6342 can have visitors, and his room phone number is:  (314) 362-6280. I am sure he would love to hear from you, or see you!

In closing out this month’s column, PLEASE write and / or contact your Senator and Representative to the United States Congress to convince Great Britain, and both sides of the issue in Ireland, to accept and put into action the “Good Friday Agreement.”  Pray for peace and total freedom in ALL OF IRELAND.

Dia beannaigh tu gach! (God bless you all!!!)

Jim Otto

President